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Liquor prices up at agency stores

The P.E.I. government has increased the price of alcohol at private stores in the province by five per cent.

Customers should pay more for the convenience of liquor agency stores, says Rob Henderson, the minister responsible for the P.E.I. Liquor Commission. (CBC)

The price increase was effective May 1.

Rob Henderson, the minister responsible for the P.E.I. Liquor Commission, said the government felt it was reasonable to have customers pay extra for convenience.

"We felt that based on the premise of convenience, that the consumers who are going there are saving the distance they'd have to drive to another location," said Henderson.

"We felt there was some movement for five per cent, and it does provide our corporate stores with a little bit more of an advantage."

Henderson said the increased profits will be split evenly between the P.E.I. Liquor Control Commission and the agency stores. This will generate more revenue for the province, said Henderson, but he couldn't say how much more.